Near Rumney, New Hampshire, the surrounding White Mountains region ranges in elevation from 500 to over 4,000 feet, creating diverse camping microclimates. The area experiences temperature variations of 20-30 degrees between day and night during camping seasons. While equestrian facilities are limited, several campgrounds near Rumney offer spacious sites where horse trailers can be accommodated with advance notice.
What to do
Riverside relaxation: At Hancock Campground, the Pemigewasset River provides natural entertainment. "The river access was great, though the water was very low. We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car," notes reviewer Lindsey M.
Winter camping opportunities: Unlike many New Hampshire campgrounds, some sites near Rumney remain open year-round. "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites," shares Heather B. about Hancock Campground.
Adventure activities: At Gunstock Campground, campers can access mountain activities without leaving the property. "They have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc," writes Kasey H. These additional amenities make it suitable for those traveling with horses needing exercise alternatives.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Some sites offer more seclusion than others. "Large campsites, clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need and located near like Winni," says Ryan P. about Gunstock Campground.
Bear-safe storage: Many Rumney area campgrounds provide bear boxes. "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries," according to Lindsey M. at Hancock Campground.
Off-season quietude: While equestrian camping options are limited, off-season visits offer more space. "We came at the end of October to try to hike Franconia Ridge... and we stumbled upon this campground. We were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river. It was amazing," reports Molly G. about her experience at Hancock Campground.
What you should know
Insect considerations: Be prepared for seasonal insect activity. "Our site was completely swarmed with bees. We checked a few vacant sites to see if maybe it was just our site, but we found them all around, including all over the cars in the lot," warns Lindsey M. about her stay at Hancock Campground.
Bathroom facilities: Facility maintenance varies across campgrounds. "The Women's bathroom ran out of toilet paper and was never replaced. More upsetting was that the soap container was empty all weekend," reports Robin B. about her experience at New Discovery State Park Campground.
Campsite variations: Sites differ dramatically within the same campground. "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there," notes Laura M. about New Discovery State Park Campground. This variability affects horse trailer parking options.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Look for campgrounds with swimming options. "The clear, cold and deep swimming hole just off the car camping area" at Hancock Campground provides family-friendly recreation according to Tara S.
Dog-friendly options: Most campgrounds in the area accept pets, but horse accommodation requires special arrangements. "Campground has a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities," reports Melissa B. about her stay at Gunstock Campground, which has 250 sites but no horse corrals.
Remote site considerations: Family camping with kids works best at accessible sites. At New Discovery State Park Campground, "If bringing a full-sized cooler(or other large/luxury car camping items) be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area. It would be a challenge to get some of those larger, heavier items to sites across the pond from the parking lot," advises Sarah C.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: While searching for horse campgrounds near Rumney, New Hampshire, RVers should note available connections. "The sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups. Very few tenting, mostly RVs on the well laid out grounds where you are not far from the beautiful beach, trout stocked pond and all ammenities," explains David G. about Tippicanoe Campground.
Water filling challenges: Non-standard water connections can cause issues. "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water," shares Laura M. about her experience at New Discovery State Park Campground.
Seasonal site considerations: For those seeking longer stays, research management policies. "If I could leave a no star rating, I would. To anyone who is looking to park there camper for the season, I recommend going elsewhere," warns Jonathan M. about Groton Forest Road Campground, highlighting the importance of checking management reviews before committing to extended stays with horses.
